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Macaque couldn't help tossing and turning around, unable to fall asleep even in his favorite tree he always sleeps on. Even the baby monkeys that always insist on sleeping all around him ran away, annoyed by his constant movement that disturbed their sleep.
He sighs softly, wrapping his own arms around himself and curling up on his side, weakly trying to mimic the feeling of someone else's arms around him. Macaque hasn't been able to sleep ever since he somehow ended up sleeping next to Wukong and woke up with strong arms wrapped around him and warm body pressed against his. It pained him to admit it was the best sleep he's had in years.
The shadow monkey groans, standing up with a soft exhale and deciding to walk around the mountain until he tires himself out. He always did like walking around Flower Fruit Mountain at night, it was peaceful and quiet. As much as he loved the monkeys living here, it was a lot easier to relax with no little creatures disturbing him with any noises that hurt his ears.
After a few hours of just mindlessly walking, Macaque ends up in front of the Water Curtain Cave. The soft sound of water splashing against the ground made his ears flicker and his eyes blink slowly a few times, realizing where he'd ended up without really meaning to.
Macaque hesitates for a moment before he melts into his shadows, stepping out of the shadow in Wukong's hut. If the golden monkey is awake, he's already very well aware of Macaque’s presence near the cave, the worst that can happen is just Wukong kicking him out.
He waits a few seconds to make sure he won't be suddenly thrown out the window, but all he hears is familiar, soft breathing and steady heartbeat. Macaque quietly sighs in relief, tiptoeing over to the couch and looking down at Wukong, curled up under a fluffy blanket and dozing away peacefully.
Carefully, Macaque grasps the edge of the blanket and pulls it up a bit, waiting to see if Wukong will wake up. When he doesn't, the shadow carefully grasps the Monkey King's warm hand, sitting down on the floor and resting his head against the edge of the couch. He stiffens nervously when he feels strong fingers wrap around his hand in return, but even after waiting a few minutes, all Wukong does is sigh in his sleep.
Sighing in relief, Macaque allows himself to slump against the edge of the couch and close his eyes. Even just holding hands is enough to make him sleepy, even if he's sitting on the hard floor with only his cape wrapped around him. All those inconvenients don't seem to matter to him anymore, and it doesn't take long before Macaque is out like a light.
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He really was planning to wake up before Wukong and leave before the other could realize he was ever there. All those plans were thrown out the window when Macaque woke up from being poked in the cheek, his eyes snapping wide open and looking at Wukong's still sleepy and disoriented face. For a moment he feels fear rising in his chest, afraid he’s about to get kicked out and yelled at for being a creepy weirdo.
Much to his surprise, Wukong just yawns and rubs his eye with a fist, looking Macaque up and down with clear confusion, not even bothering to lift his head up from the pillow he was sleeping on. Macaque freezes with anxiety, holding his breath in until he hears the other mumble something under his nose before clearing his throat and speaking again.
“Why're you on my floor?” The Monkey King mutters with a raspy voice, raising his eyebrow before he's interrupted by a yawn. Macaque swallows down and tries to act cool, trying to ignore the fact Wukong hasn't let go of his hand. He doesn’t want to think whether that’s a conscious decision or if he’s just still half asleep and didn’t even notice they’re holding hands.
He opens and closes his mouth a few times, not sure how to even explain himself without making himself look even more pathetic. “Just… It's cold outside. It's unfair only you get the privilege of a house here,” he huffs weakly, rolling his eyes and turning his face away to hide the embarrassed blush on his cheeks.
Wukong blinks as if he's slowly processing any words said to him before he just lifts his blanket up and scoots backwards until his back is pressed flush against the backrest of his couch. “C'mere then. Doubt the floor is any warmer than the ground outside,” he hums, already closing his eyes and just waiting for Macaque to join him on the couch.
Macaque’s blush deepens, and he chews on his bottom lip, thinking it through. The prospect of warm cuddles with Wukong is too good to give up though, and soon he's crawling up onto the couch and letting the Monkey King cover him up with the blanket.
He feels like his heart is going to beat out of his chest when Wukong's arms wrap around him and pull him closer, the other resting his head on Macaque's shoulder and quickly dozing off back to sleep.
The shadow lays like a plank for a good while, just listening to the soft, cute sounds the Great Sage makes in his sleep. He carefully moves his own arms to wrap them around the other, turning his head to the side and burying his face in soft, ginger curls. He sighs and lets his whole body relax, taking in Wukong’s scent and letting his eyes close again, quickly falling into a peaceful sleep with strong arms wrapped tightly around him and warm body pressed against his side.